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How four ordinary men transformed into legendary Christmas figure Santa Claus

Their stories may surprise you

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Updated: 7:52 PM EST Dec 22, 2016

AP

Not everyone can be Santa, but these four men accepted their calling.

SOURCE: AP

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How four ordinary men transformed into legendary Christmas figure Santa Claus

Their stories may surprise you

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Updated: 7:52 PM EST Dec 22, 2016

Despite what you've seen in movies, you don't become Santa Claus just by putting on the suit.
Below are the true stories of how four Northern California Santa Claus' found their way into the big guy's shoes.
1. Steakhouse Santa
I am a real bearded Santa who answered the calling in 2004. You see you do not just wake up one day and say “I think I will play Santa." I portray Santa 24/7/365.
I answered the calling in Tucson, Arizona. I had on black jeans a red shirt and a Santa hat. About 18 of my friends, my wife and me were all at dinner in the Golden Corral.
My wife told me, look out here comes a little Mexican boy. I had no sooner turn to face him and he was in my lap. I asked him in Spanish what his name was, what he wanted for Christmas and where he lived. He looked at me and then told his mom in perfect English, "Mom Santa speaks Spanish".
I had 15 more children in my lap that evening. Mind you I had never portrayed Santa before… that was my calling.
I have always had a love for children, I am a retired Special Agent Supervisor with the Cal. DOJ, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement.
2. Born to Be Santa
Well, if you want to get technical, I was a Christmas baby. My first picture ended up being on the front the local paper in Santa's arms.
Christmas was always a big deal in my family and we always went "all out." As I always had my birthday parties growing up during Christmas, as a child, I got the idea to come out at the end of the party dressed up and give my friends gifts. It was silly, but I loved it.
I did not start to take it more seriously until I had my first born and wanted her to see Santa in the house. I put together a half decent suit and a fake beard and showed up. Those pictures spread through our friends and I quickly began to make visits to their homes and volunteer my time at the school where I teach.
There is nothing like it, and you cannot help but fall in love with the experience. I ended up branching out a few years later, mostly for charities, then my corporate clients followed and I was investing thousands on custom suits, boots, belts, and having grooming supplies that rivaled my wife's by ten fold!
3. Help Wanted?
I started 6 year's ago, I work with staffing agencies for in store demo work. I got an email asking if I was interested in a unique job Santa at Toys R Us. After thinking about it for a brief time, I said sure.
All Toys R Us would have Santa and Geoffrey walking around their stores nationwide. The only location left was Arden fair.
I realized after putting on the suit and walking around the store interacting with young and old that, if you are the right person inside, when you put on the suit you are him, Santa Claus, not you. You are keeping the hopes and dreams of many young and old alive, you see the sparkle.
4. Air Force Base Santa
My first clue I was Santa was at the Beal Air Force Base range one fall day. I was sitting in the club house waiting on my son and daughter. A little boy saw me from across the room and crawled into my lap. We started talk about Christmas and he believed I was Santa. His older sister joined him a minute later. And yes, I do look like Santa.
Within a year, while on vacation, my wife bought me a Santa suit so I could make Christmas special for my grandchildren.
Next, before Christmas, my eldest daughter invited me attend her Fourth of July Block Party as Santa. It was so much fun and the children really enjoyed event. Everyone took lots of pictures. I rode my segway and the kids followed on their bikes.
The transformation to Santa followed naturally. I am one of the blessed few.

Despite what you've seen in movies, you don't become Santa Claus just by putting on the suit.

Below are the true stories of how four Northern California Santa Claus' found their way into the big guy's shoes.

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1. Steakhouse Santa

I am a real bearded Santa who answered the calling in 2004. You see you do not just wake up one day and say “I think I will play Santa." I portray Santa 24/7/365.

I answered the calling in Tucson, Arizona. I had on black jeans a red shirt and a Santa hat. About 18 of my friends, my wife and me were all at dinner in the Golden Corral.

My wife told me, look out here comes a little Mexican boy. I had no sooner turn to face him and he was in my lap. I asked him in Spanish what his name was, what he wanted for Christmas and where he lived. He looked at me and then told his mom in perfect English, "Mom Santa speaks Spanish".

I had 15 more children in my lap that evening. Mind you I had never portrayed Santa before… that was my calling.

I have always had a love for children, I am a retired Special Agent Supervisor with the Cal. DOJ, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement.

2. Born to Be Santa

Well, if you want to get technical, I was a Christmas baby. My first picture ended up being on the front the local paper in Santa's arms.

Christmas was always a big deal in my family and we always went "all out." As I always had my birthday parties growing up during Christmas, as a child, I got the idea to come out at the end of the party dressed up and give my friends gifts. It was silly, but I loved it.

I did not start to take it more seriously until I had my first born and wanted her to see Santa in the house. I put together a half decent suit and a fake beard and showed up. Those pictures spread through our friends and I quickly began to make visits to their homes and volunteer my time at the school where I teach.

There is nothing like it, and you cannot help but fall in love with the experience. I ended up branching out a few years later, mostly for charities, then my corporate clients followed and I was investing thousands on custom suits, boots, belts, and having grooming supplies that rivaled my wife's by ten fold!

3. Help Wanted?

I started 6 year's ago, I work with staffing agencies for in store demo work. I got an email asking if I was interested in a unique job Santa at Toys R Us. After thinking about it for a brief time, I said sure.

All Toys R Us would have Santa and Geoffrey walking around their stores nationwide. The only location left was Arden fair.

I realized after putting on the suit and walking around the store interacting with young and old that, if you are the right person inside, when you put on the suit you are him, Santa Claus, not you. You are keeping the hopes and dreams of many young and old alive, you see the sparkle.

4. Air Force Base Santa

My first clue I was Santa was at the Beal Air Force Base range one fall day. I was sitting in the club house waiting on my son and daughter. A little boy saw me from across the room and crawled into my lap. We started talk about Christmas and he believed I was Santa. His older sister joined him a minute later. And yes, I do look like Santa.

Within a year, while on vacation, my wife bought me a Santa suit so I could make Christmas special for my grandchildren.

Next, before Christmas, my eldest daughter invited me attend her Fourth of July Block Party as Santa. It was so much fun and the children really enjoyed event. Everyone took lots of pictures. I rode my segway and the kids followed on their bikes.

The transformation to Santa followed naturally. I am one of the blessed few.